Sunday, 9 January 2011

Rhodesia's Dams

Booklet on Rhodesia's Dams.

FOREWORD

Although Rhodesia's mean rainfall is above world average, its distribution is so irregular and variable during the rainy season (October to April) that uncontrolled river flow alone would not ensure a constant supply of water for domestic, industrial and irrigation purposes. Dams are essential for permanent water supplies and are built to store water and to provide a balanced supply for all seasons and conditions.

Rhodesia is well endowed with suitable sites having favourable storage basins and with ample supplies of construction materials available.

Matopos, the first of our large dams, was built in 1901, and from that date construction has kept pace with the demand generated by economic growth.

Kariba, the country's largest and most spectacular dam, was completed in I960, and harnesses the waters of the Zambezi River to generate power hydro-electrically. The Zambezi River marks the northern boundary of Rhodesia and represents a vast potential of water but its distance from the main centres of development make it uneconomic for further exploitation at the present time.

Up to the commencement of 1973, Rhodesia had 62 dams exceeding 15 metres in height and more than 7 000 smaller dams built mostly within the last 25 years. Advance planning has been made for further installations to ensure adequate supplies for the future. Rhodesia is proud of its dam construction achievements, some of which are illustrated in this publication, and gratefully acknowledges the assistance received from engineers of many countries who have made their contributions, both directly and through the International Commission on Large Dams, to the country's progress in engineering

Chairman, Rhodesian National Committee,INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON LARGE DAMS

MAZOE DAM (1919)Constructed to provide irrigation water to "The Chartered Company." Raised and strengthened by the "Coyne" process of post stressing in 1961.Owner: Anglo American Corporation.Original Engineering: Douglas Fox and partners.Raising by The Cementation Co., (Rhod) Pvt. Ltd and Coyne et Bellier.

3 Comments:

Why do former Rhodesians always assume they did the africans more good than harm. If think it should always be phrsaed like with an I think or I believe because you can never know for sure if one's acts of kindness are appreciated or received in gratitude. This is clearly shown by the fact that the native aficans felt oppressed and thats why they ended up fighting. And the white rhodesians called them REBELS. In simple terms let me say that one can never speak for or clearly express how one feels without consulting them for they are the ones who know how they truely feel.

The graph showing the exponential growth of dam building from the 50-70's is quite remarkable.

My father played an instrumental part in spear heading the building of Sebakwe Dam outside Que Que which came to fruition in 1957 in anticipation of all the secondary industries connected with RISCO and the adjacent limeworks.

These struggles are outlined in my blog stories, Challenge, Change, and Perseverance http://www.oncecalledhome.com/ I post weekly in conjunction with a novel I am writing about those times. Diana PolisenskyI invite your comment